Summer Wedding At Briar Ridge Country Club In Dyer, Indiana

January 28, 2019 Steve Vansak

The bride and groom share a laugh at Briar Ridge Country Club.

Summer wedding? As I type this, snow is falling and blowing outside and the polar vortex is scheduled to bring the Chicagoland region a negative 24 degree temperature with high winds!! I knew this was coming, so I saved Patty and Stephen’s summer wedding blog for this winter article. Hopefully all the sunshine in their photos will warm us all up. The happy couple received their wedding album months ago. They actually live in New York City where I imagine winter is just as cruel as here in the Midwest.

The entire wedding took place at the beautiful Briar Ridge Country Club in Dyer, Indiana where we started with me photographing bridal prep and second photographer Lauren covering the guy’s prep.

Bridal prep for a summer wedding at Briar Ridge.

The bridesmaids assist the bride on her big day.

Groom prep for a summer wedding at Briar Ridge Country Club.

The bride shows off her boho crown and flowing white dress.

We structured Patty and Stephen’s day so that all of their pictures would be done before the ceremony which was set for 6pm. This way they could go straight to cocktail hour, dinner and fun on the dance floor without any stress or rushing around to fit in photos. This meant a first look in a shady area next to the Briar Ridge Clubhouse before we soaked up the sun for their summer wedding pictures.

First look for the bride and groom next to the Briar Ridge Golf Course Clubhouse.

Bridal portrait surrounded by greenery at Briar Ridge Golf Course in Dyer, Indiana.

Wedding party group photos at Briar Ridge Country Club.

Bride and groom soak up the sun in this backlit wedding picture.

The bride and groom have fun on their wedding day.

After taking many pictures all around the wonderfully landscaped golf course, we took family pictures at the front of the clubhouse. Then it was ceremony time.

Family pictures at Briar Ridge Country Club.

Golf course wedding ceremony at Briar Ridge.

Patty and Stephen chose a 6pm ceremony time which was perfect due to the sun getting low in the sky. This enabled the guests as well as the couple to comfortably be in the shade throughout.

Outdoor summer wedding on the golf course.

After the ceremony we took a few golden hour shots and then it was inside for dinner, drinks and dance floor fun.

Golden hour dance for the bride and groom in their ceremony are at Briar Ridge golf course.

Bride and groom take a stroll in the golden hour sun.

Cocktail hour at a Briar Ridge Country Club wedding.

First dance for the bride and groom as romantic lighting engulfs the dance floor.

Wedding reception fun at Briar Ridge Country Club.

I hope you have enjoyed this blog post of Patty and Stephen’s summer wedding at Briar Ridge Country Club in Dyer, Indiana. As always, please do fill out the Contact Form here to inquire about wedding photography for your big day. The Region Weddings IG feed has many more images from this and other weddings for your viewing pleasure.

The 2018 Year In Review for Northwest Indiana and Chicago Weddings

December 31, 2018 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom steal a kiss on a hilltop at Briar Ridge Golf Course.

I’m typing this blog post on December 31, 2018 on what is supposed to be a slow day in the world of a wedding photographer. It’s not!! With several client meetings today and the final wedding of the year just this past weekend, one of my busiest years in Northwest Indiana and Chicago wedding photography is ending as it began with a very active schedule. No complaints here, but get ready because I have LOTS of images and wedding stories for the year down below. Let’s get to it…

Late winter 2018 weddings in Valparaiso, Indiana and Grant Park, Illinois.

After a busy December the previous year, I photographed Nicole and Luke’s wonderful church wedding in early March in Beecher, Illinois and followed shortly by Ashley and Adam at Aberdeen Manor.

Wedding Ceremony At Faith United Reform Church

In early Spring I found myself at Briar Ridge Country Club quite a few times starting off with Rachel and Matt with Sheri and Ryan the following Saturday. Both couples had some blazing sun for their golf course weddings.

Two Spring weddings at Briar Ridge Country Club in Dyer, Indiana.

The previous Fall I had done Ashley and Michael’s engagement session and they had such a wonderful chemistry together that I was eagerly anticipating their outdoor wedding at the spectacular Sandy Pines Pavilion with it’s beautiful bridal suite and perfectly landscaped scenery. It was a wonderful Sunday wedding.

I was also back for another golf course wedding with a touch of Disney with Abby and Sean at Sand Creek Country Club.

Bride and groom hold hands on the lake pier at Sandy Pines Golf Course.

Weddings at two golf courses - Sandy Pines and Sand Creek.

In mid May it was the first of two weddings at County Line Orchard with Jaime and Tom. The groom’s family came all the way from England for this exquisite barn wedding.

The bride and groom exit the County Line Orchard south barn after their ceremony.

Spring wedding photos at County Line Orchard.

Late in May saw me heading to Chicago for Veronica and Adrian’s church wedding and then it was time for another trip to Valparaiso University and The Chapel of the Resurrection where Lauren and Edward declared victory.

May weddings in Chicago and Northwest Indiana.

The groom rings the victory bell at Valparaiso University.

Bride and groom at the bottom of the spiral staircase at Valparaiso University.

The groom and his guys at Valparaiso University.

Also in late May, I made it back to the beach for Nicole and Chad’s Memorial Day weekend wedding at Marquette Park Pavilion. Then it was back to Briar Ridge Country Club for Patty and Stephen’s outdoor nuptials.

Late Spring weddings at Marquette Park Pavilion and Briar Ridge Country Club.

June saw another golf course wedding reception with Jennifer and Carl and a stop by Meyer’s Castle two weekends in a row for Valerie and Anthony and then Mallory and Ryan.

June weddings at Briar Ridge and Meyer’s Castle.

The bride is soaked by sunlight at Meyer’s Castle during a summer wedding.

June wedding at Meyer’s Castle in Dyer, Indiana.

Summer rolled on with another County Line Orchard wedding where Ashley and Zach had their un-plugged wedding ceremony.

Bride and groom smooch in the farm fields behind County Line Orchard.

Gang of bridesmaids stalk the open fields of County Line Orchard.

July saw another Chicago wedding with Lauren and Mark at The Signature Room on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Building and Katie and Patrick’s church wedding at St. Michael’s Parish in Schererville, Indiana with reception at The Munster Center for the Performing Arts.

July weddings in Chicago and Schererville, Indiana.

The groom kisses the bride at the edge of the Centennial Park Lake.

The summer weddings rolled on with Kim and Tim at St. Maria Goretti Church as well as Patti and David and their wonderful backyard wedding in Crown Point.

Summer weddings in Northwest Indiana during August of 2018.

Summer is the height of baseball season of course, so super fans Kaitlyn and Ryan took to the field after their wedding at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Griffith, Indiana. I also shot at the brand new Allure on the Lake for Katie and Arnie’s wedding reception.

August weddings at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, St. Paul’s Catholic Church and Allure on The Lake.

Labor Day weekend brought an end to summer but the beginning of busy season with Josie and Victor’s bohemian outdoor wedding at Friendship Garden in Michigan City with a stop at The Market for the reception. It also saw another stop at Briar Ridge Country Club with Molly and Chris.

Kissing bridge at Friendship Garden in Michigan City, Indiana.

Outdoor weddings at Friendship Garden and Briar Ridge Country Club.

Boho bride from above during bridal prep for her big day.

A couple in love gazes romantically at each other.

It was my first “wedding selfie” shot at Tracey and Chris’ outdoor wedding at Peck Farm Park in Geneva, Illinois. The grain silo is just massive and I was so glad to take some images showcasing the bride and groom next to it. Early September also saw a stop at Centennial Park for an outdoor wedding with Julie and Jason.

September weddings in Illinois and Indiana.

The grain silo at Peck Farm Park towers over the bride and groom.

As September drifted into October, we saw the absolutely fun wedding of Emma and Kyle at Croation Center and then it was Nikki and Johnny’s wedding with a church ceremony at St. Michael’s Church in Schererville, Indiana and a rocking reception at St. Elijah Banquet Center in Merrillville.

The bride and groom sport a take no prisoners look for their wedding photo.

Bridal portrait at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.

October also saw Captain America and SpiderWoman (Jess and Josh) get married at Lighthouse Restaurant as well as Erika and Mitch with a Great Gatsby themed wedding at The Allure in Laporte, Indiana.

Captain America marries SpiderWoman at Lighthouse Restaurant in Cedar Lake.

A wedding picture during a hailstorm in Laporte, Indiana.

The bride and groom get mischievous at The Allure.

Karen and Jason had their hometown wedding in Crown point with a St. Mary’s Church ceremony with stops at the fairgrounds and a reception at the old Lake County Courthouse Maki Ballroom.

More October weddings at The Allure and in downtown Crown Point.

Late October and November Fall weddings saw me back at Sand Creek Country Club for Marz and Tom’s big day as well as Krueger Memorial Hall in Michigan City for Ashley and Terry’s beautiful Fall wedding with Autumn leaves everywhere.

Fall weddings at Sand Creek Country Club and Krueger Memorial Hall.

Leaves fall upon the bride and groom for their Autumn wedding.

As winter finally arrived, The Uptown Center got all lit up for Kristen and Patrick’s wedding and last, but certainly not least the grand finale, last wedding of 2018 was Sarah and Nick’s snow filled day at Sand Creek Country Club.

Winter weddings at Uptown Center and Sand Creek Country Club.

Whew, thanks for making it all the way though this long review of weddings in Northwest Indiana and Chicago in 2018. Please contact me here on the website to set up a meeting to discuss the photography for your wedding day. I service Northwest Indiana, Chicago and southern Michigan but I’m also available for travel. 2018 brought me to a few new venues as well as old favorites. I’m looking forward to seeing where you take me next year and beyond. A special Thank You to Kerrie, Bridget, Schylar, Michelle, Lauren, Doug and Jaime for their help in Wedding Season 2018. Happy New Year!!

Fall Wedding At The Croatian Center

October 4, 2018 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom in front of the gazebo at The Croatian Center.

Emma and Kyle had a lovely outdoor wedding ceremony right at the start of the Fall season at The Croatian Center. The day started out with Instax photos and bridal prep while Kyle and the guys prepared their Chicago Bulls jerseys for the big entrance later that night.

Bridal prep for a wedding at The Croatian Center.

Bride and groom ready for the big day ahead.

I handled photographing Emma and her bridesmaids and family at the Old Crown Point Courthouse and Square while Kerrie took pictures of Kyle and his guys at Lake County Fairgrounds.

Bride and bridesmaids in front of the Old Crown Point Courthouse.

Fun bridesmaids pictures in downtown Crown Point.

Groomsmen photos at Lake County Fairgrounds.

The outdoor ceremony at The Croatian Center featured the couple’s two adorable dogs coming down the aisle with the rest of the wedding party. Temperatures were cool so the provided wedding blankets were welcomed by guests.

Outdoor wedding ceremony at The Croatian Center.

After the ceremony we took family pictures and wedding party group shots as well as romantic wedding photos of the newlyweds. The wedding party donned their 9/29 Chicago Bulls jerseys and awaited the introductions by Trans Audio Entertainment.

Romantic wedding photos behind The Croatian Center.

Bride and groom kiss beneath a blue sky.

Plenty of decor was on hand at the reception, including a delicious donut wall and an inscribed pumpkin.

Wedding reception decorations at The Croatian Center.

At nightfall I took the bride and groom outside for a slow dance by the light of the glowing gazebo.

Night dance with the bride and groom outside by the gazebo.

I hope you have enjoyed this sneak peek look at Emma and Kyle’s Fall wedding at The Croatian Center. To inquire about your big day, please fill out the Contact Form here. Stay tuned to the Region Weddings Instagram feed for more pictures from this and other weddings.

Wedding At Peck Farm Park

September 14, 2018 Steve Vansak

Bride and groom beneath the grain silo at Peck Farm Park.

Tracey and Chris had a true “family style” barn wedding at Peck Farm Park in Geneva, Illinois. Close family and friends gathered in a half circle for the outdoor ceremony and then it was time for an all day, open air reception. Let’s start at the beginning of the day with bridal prep at The Herrington Inn and Spa.

Bridal prep at The Herrington Inn and Spa.

Wedding day fun for the bride and her crew.

While I spent the morning in and out of the bathtub with Tracey’s bride tribe, photographer Grant was with Chris and the guys as they learned the art of tying ties.

Tracey got into her dress at the Peck Farm Park farmhouse and we utilized the classic front porch of the building for some portraits of the bride.

A vintage tone for the bride on the front porch of Peck Farm Park farmhouse.

The beautiful bride on her wedding day in Geneva, Illinois.

Black and white portrait of the bride inside the farmhouse.

The wedding party was also a family affair with Tracey and Chris’ children taking on bridesmaid and groomsmen duties.

The bridesmaids take a stroll at Peck Farm Park.

The groomsmen all dressed and ready to go.

The ceremony area is just beneath the grain silo with a half circle of seating. The view of farmland was especially picturesque on Tracey and Chris’ perfectly overcast day. Some emotional moments occurred as the couple read their vows and the nuptials were capped off with a “ceremony selfie” at the very end.

Outdoor wedding ceremony at Peck Farm Park.

Wedding ceremony beneath the grain silo at Peck Farm Park.

Exchanging wedding vows at Peck Farm Park in Geneva, IL.

One of the attractions at Peck Farm Park is the famous butterfly house. We did some bride and groom portraits along with a flirtatious butterfly and then it was outside with the Illinois heartland as our backdrop.

Bride and groom photos inside the butterfly house at Peck Farm Park.

Bride and groom embrace in the Illinois fields.

Farmland wedding photos in Geneva, Illinois.

For the reception (which essentially started the minute the ceremony was over) there was an enclosed barn that housed desserts and another open air barn where the bar and dancing was. Roaming servers came around and served food to guests throughout both areas. The party favors of inscribed blankets were perfect for this slightly chilly night.

Wedding reception decor at Peck Farm Park.

Wedding reception fun at Peck Farm Park in Geneva, Illinois.

I took the bride and groom out for a night portrait as the sky turned deep blue just after sunset. It was a beautiful day and a lovely barn wedding with Tracey and Chris in Geneva, Illinois at Peck Farm Park. To inquire about wedding photography for your big day, be sure to fill out the Contact form here. Stay tuned to the social media channels below for more images from this wedding and others.